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LeMahieu earning more time with hot hitting

5/21/13: DJ LeMahieu smacks a double to left field to plate Nolan Arenado, extending the Rockies' lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth

By Thomas Harding
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MLB.com |

DENVER -- Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu's three-hit, two-double game in Tuesday night's 5-4, 10-inning victory over the D-backs earned him a start at second base Wednesday in the No. 2 spot.

In his first six games since being called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs, LeMahieu sizzled at .462 with two RBIs. Before joining the Rockies, he hit .364 with one home run, eight doubles and five triples at Triple-A Colorado Springs.

LeMahieu, who played shortstop in Colorado Springs but can play second and third, did much of his damage against the Giants and D-backs -- teams he became familiar with while hitting .297 in 81 games with the Rockies last season -- as the regular second baseman.

"Pretty much all the pitchers I've faced so far, I faced last year, so that helps," LeMahieu said. "Getting my swing right the first part of this year was good, and I'm trying to continue what I had going in Triple-A"

LeMahieu was activated after the Rockies designated infielder Reid Brignac for assignment. Now, manager Walt Weiss is using LeMahieu while regular second baseman Josh Rutledge battles through a hitting slump. Rutledge is at .242, but has five home runs and 13 RBIs, as well as five stolen bases in as many attempts. Weiss has said he is willing to ride with Rutledge's current slump because he can be a dynamic player on offense.

"It would be tough to take DJ out of the lineup after the game he had last night," Weiss said. "There are ebbs and flows to the season in a lot of different ways. Sometimes it's with players that get hot and cold, and it's going to happen with everybody."

"You've got to take care of guys when they're struggling, while at the same time keeping other guys involved. You've got to use all the pieces."